Specialist, Mining
Overview
Overview
WWF-Canada’s 10-year plan to Regenerate Canada aims to expand large-scale resilient habitats, undertake complex ecosystem restoration, and reduce or eliminate industrial impacts and, as a result, reverse wildlife and biodiversity loss and fight climate change. It’s an exciting time for WWF-Canada as we focus on improving ecosystem resilience in ways that bring benefits for wildlife, Indigenous and other communities, and climate.
Position Description
The Specialist, Mining focuses on reducing or eliminating threats to large-scale ecosystem productivity from mining-related activities in WWF-Canada’s focus regions including but not limited to Nunavut, Hudson James Bay, and Interior BC. In partnership and collaboration with First Nations, Inuit and Metis, local communities, Federal, Provincial and Territorial governments, and where appropriate the mining sector, the Specialist will work to increase habitat viability and ecosystem carbon storage and sequestration by reducing disruptive impacts from the mining cycle including via claim staking and exploration activities, habitat destructive mine development, related infrastructure such as shipping and transportation corridors, and failure to adequately complete post mine restoration to ensure complex ecosystem regeneration and maintenance.
Responsibilities
- Work directly with Indigenous communities, organizations, and committees to support their priorities related to the interaction between mineral development and mining and broader healthy ecosystem goals.
- Identify and stay abreast of mining issues, policies, legislation and regulations that negatively impact wildlife habitat, biodiversity, ecosystem carbon and community well-being.
- Lead or assist with developing and implementing strategies to reduce threats to wildlife, biodiversity and ecosystem carbon due to mining activities in geographical regions where WWF-Canada is already working.
- Identify, connect, and develop relationships with First Nations, Inuit, and Metis, as well local communities, relevant business and commercial interests, government staff, other ENGOs, and academic experts, among others, to maximize benefits for wildlife, climate, and communities.
- Provide expertise on mineral extraction laws, policies, and regulations in Canada, and suggest approaches to resource management including, but not limited to critical mineral strategies (federal and provincial), the federal Impact Assessment Act, provincial approaches to impact assessment, and regulatory structures around each of the steps in the mining sequence (e.g. consultation and engagement, claim staking, exploration/evaluation, mine development and production, mine closure, and restoration and rehabilitation).
- Collaborate and provide guidance on wildlife and industry issues to WWF-Canada’s other Conservation units and other divisions including Marketing & Communications, and Development.
- Track progress towards WWF-Canada’s Regenerate Canada goals and targets using established indicators, and actively support a culture of accountability for execution and results.
- Occasionally act as WWF-Canada’s liaison on global issues and initiatives relevant to wildlife and industry as part of the WWF International network.
- Represent WWF-Canada at external fora such as conferences and meetings, as assigned.
- Contribute to budgets, financial and progress reports, and forecasts.
Qualifications
- Completion of a post-secondary education in Resource Management, Environmental Studies/Science, Geography, or other relevant area of study and 4+ years of professional experience related to natural resources (planning, policy and/or permitting) and/or supporting the interests of Indigenous communities OR Completion of a post-graduate degree in Resource Management, Environmental Studies/Science, Geography, or other relevant area of study and 2+ years of professional experience related to natural resources (planning, policy and/or permitting) and/or supporting the interests of Indigenous communities
- Understanding of mining activities and issues, including how they impact wildlife habitat, biodiversity, and carbon sinks such as forested lands, wetlands, and coastal zones, and potential responses to reduce or eliminate risk to wildlife, terrestrial and coastal ecosystems.
- Experience supporting mining-related wildlife, biodiversity and ecosystem carbon priorities identified by First Nations, Inuit and Metis.
- Proven ability to work collaboratively with diverse partners.
- Self-starter and ability to work independently.
- Strong problem-solving capabilities paired with an outcome-oriented approach
- Proven ability to manage projects, contracts and budgets.
- Fluency in a First Nations’ language or Inuktitut would be considered an asset.
- Working knowledge of geographic information systems (GIS) would be considered an asset.
- Knowledge of and experience with federal and provincial agencies, regulations, policies and decision-making structures related to natural resources would be considered an asset.
- Identify & align with WWF’s core values: Courage, Integrity, Respect, and Collaboration.
Other Information
- This position will require local travel to meet with community partners.
- Occasional national travel may be required.
Deadline to Apply
If you are interested in applying for this exciting opportunity, please click Apply, and ensure that your application is received on or before May 21, 2024, at 5 pm EST.
Commitment to Diversity and Accessibility
Our vision is a Canada with abundant wildlife where nature and people thrive and we value and rely on diversity of thought, knowledge, expertise, and lived experience to help bring our vision to life.
We recognize that experience comes in many forms and skills are transferable. If you feel that your unique experiences can enhance our vision, we encourage you to apply – even if you don’t meet 100% of the requirements.
We encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as First Nations, Métis or Inuk (Inuit), Black, racialized, a person with a disability, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.
We are committed to a barrier-free and equitable recruitment & selection process. If you are contacted in relation an opportunity to join our team and require an accommodation at any point in the process, please advise the recruiter of your specific needs. We commit to managing these requests in a confidential manner.
